1. What is the MicroStrategy SDK?
The MicroStrategy SDK is a comprehensive development toolkit that allows developers to customize the standard MicroStrategy interface and functionality or adapt and integrate the MicroStrategy interface and functionality into their own application on multiple platforms. It contains:

• Open Application Programming Interface (API) Set: Complete set of the MicroStrategy APIs that serve as the building blocks for the MicroStrategy platform
• Documentation: Documentation, reference guides and step-by-step tutorials on common customization tasks. Starting with SDK 7.3, documentation is included into the MicroStrategy Developer Library with much improved usability and comprehensiveness
• Development Tools: Sample application code using a variety of different technologies and standards, administration tools, and project maintenance utilities
• Embedding & Packaging: Required features for embedding applications with MicroStrategy business intelligence technology.

2. What APIs are available in the MicroStrategy SDK?
Currently, the MicroStrategy SDK has two sets of APIs:

• MicroStrategy Web API. It has two editions:
  • COM-edition: It is used primarily for ASP and COM-based development
  • Java-edition (MicroStrategy Java SDK): It is used primarily for JSP/Servlet implementations. This API is compatible with J2EE.
• MicroStrategy Intelligence Server API: It is the Client/Server API used for Windows-based (COM) 32-bit client/server applications running against MicroStrategy Intelligence Server.
  

3. How can the MicroStrategy SDK be used?
MicroStrategy SDK is used to develop custom decision support applications. With the MicroStrategy SDK, developers can:

• Create a completely personalized business intelligence solution that caters to their business standards and requirements and integrate such embedding business intelligence into their existing IT infrastructure
• Expose MicroStrategy intelligence and functionality within any interface of their choosing -- new or existing, email, wireless or web -- or easily change the interface that MicroStrategy provides
• (For partners) Build applications and products using best-in-class business intelligence technology that they can resell to their customers

Any application that provides reporting or data analysis to the end user can benefit from the MicroStrategy SDK. Examples include but are not limited to web portals, ERP systems, CRM applications, sales force automation tools, B2B supply chain applications and any information delivery system. These applications can be used in various industry verticals including retail, financial services, telecommunications, healthcare and manufacturing.

4. What are key benefits from using MicroStrategy SDK?
The key benefits from using MicroStrategy SDK include:

• Embed Intelligence in any application (all MicroStrategy Business Intelligence platform functionality can be exposed to create powerful customized applications)
• Extend the power of the MicroStrategy Business Intelligence platform through third party applications
• Build platform-independent web applications
• Seamless Integration of disparate applications through industry standard programming languages
• Multiple levels of APIs that are optimized for power and scalability to large user communities
• Easy Portal and Web services integration with Portal Integration Kit™ and Web Services Development Kit™
• Abstraction layer and comprehensive documentation for rapid deployment of custom applications
  

5. Can I buy the SDK without the other products?
In order to utilize MicroStrategy SDK, you have to buy the related MicroStrategy products. The MicroStrategy SDK is distributed under a developer license agreement. The MicroStrategy SDK requires the MicroStrategy platform in order to provide a complete query, reporting and analysis solution. For example, in order to use MicroStrategy Intelligence Server API, you must have MicroStrategy Intelligence Server installed. To buy MicroStrategy SDK without the required MicroStrategy products makes no sense.

6. How open is the architecture of MicroStrategy SDK?
The MicroStrategy SDK makes the MicroStrategy architecture completely open for integration. Developers can add their own reports and components. As a result, developers can programmatically integrate the MicroStrategy platform into existing applications, thereby extending and customizing the platform to suit their business intelligence needs.

7. What Industry standards are supported by MicroStrategy SDK?
The API interfaces allow developers to design and implement enterprise-class programming, accessible from any Java, COM, Visual Basic, VBA, ASP, VB Script and C++ application. The MicroStrategy SDK seamlessly integrates with a variety of industry-class development environments for application creation and deployment.

8. Does the MicroStrategy SDK architecture support XML?
All the API interfaces are fully XML enabled. All API calls and communications are completely via XML. Report requests and results are in XML, allowing developers to format and present the results any way they want.

9. What are supported environments of MicroStrategy SDK?
The MicroStrategy SDK (with COM-based API and JAVA-based API) supports multiple operating systems, web application servers and web servers. Developers can develop applications once and deploy on numerous environments.

• Supported Operating Systems*:
  • (For COM API): Windows 2000/NT
  • (For Java API): IBM AIX
  • (For Java API): Sun Solaris
  * The operating systems such as HP-UX and LINUX can be supported even though comprehensive tests on them have not been conducted.
• Supported Web and Application Servers:
  • Microsoft® IIS 4.0 or higher
  • IBM® Websphere® 3.5
  • Sun™ One
  • BEA Weblogic™
  • Apache Tomcat

10. Does the MicroStrategy SDK have sample code?
A set of Java, Visual Basic, VBA and VC++ sample code provide a jumpstart to use the APIs. Additionally, the MicroStrategy SDK Workbench, which is a fully functional website, demonstrates the MicroStrategy functionality available through the APIs. MicroStrategy SDK Workbench is presented in both ASP and JSP. It illustrates almost each piece of functionality of Web APIs, such as clustering and administration, report and document execution, object browsing and report manipulation.

11. How do I package the MicroStrategy SDK in my install routine?
The MicroStrategy SDK has easy-to-use silent install and runtime procedures, designed to help embed and package MicroStrategy SDK in any custom installation program.

12. What's new for MicroStrategy SDK 7.3?
MicroStrategy SDK 7.3 is the latest version of the MicroStrategy SDK. The APIs included in SDK 7.3 are used to build MicroStrategy's platform-independent web-based query and reporting product -- MicroStrategy Web Universal. Therefore, the Web API part of SDK 7.3 and associated documentation and utilities can be viewed as Web Universal SDK.

Comparing with the earlier version, SDK 7.3 features the new layered object-oriented architecture which is fully compliant with J2EE™, unified single Java Servlet control, the further separation of presentation logic and application logic, a comprehensive Developer Library, etc. For developers, it implies easy and maintainable customization and quick integration.

13. Why does the architecture of SDK 7.3 make customization and integration easier, quicker and maintainable?
The layered architecture of SDK 7.3 is designed to be easy to customize and integrate. A complete Web Objects layer Contains around 2500 Java classes that interpret and initiate distinct units BI functionality (pivot, sort, subtotal, drill, etc), and constructs the aggregated XML API calls to the base API. BI Information objects (such as report, folder, etc.) can be ported to other web applications as self-contained Java Beans. Transforms which are Java classes transforming abstract BI information into a variety of viewable renderings for any user device or interface separate the business logic and the application logic. Thin layer of JSPs defines the page layout and can be easily edited and a single Servlet controls all actions and interconnections between JSPs and other objects.

For SDK 7.3, a lot of customizations (such as add or remove page, image and layout, change the display of report, folder and prompt) can be accomplished through editing simple parameters stored in configuration files (in XML format). Such parameter-driven customization can be done without knowledge of Java or other programming language and the customizations can be easily upgraded to future releases. Furthermore, an intuitive Web-based tool, Style Editor, is included into SDK 7.3 to help to edit one configuration files.

14. What is the MicroStrategy Developer Library?
Starting with SDK 7.3, the MicroStrategy Developer Library contains all the information required to understand the SDK in a very short time. It contains details about the architecture, object models, code samples, step-by-step tutorials and so on that is useful for building a sophisticated and highly functional customized solution. Comparing with the documentation and reference guide for earlier version SDK, Developer Library is much more comprehensive and has much better usability.

15. How do I get started?
You may order a free evaluation copy through the MicroStrategy web site at http://www.microstrategy.com/FreeEvalCD.asp.